Many students, including myself, have a fear of being hit by the Crimson Ride bus. Last week however, we learned that maybe it is not us that should be afraid of the Crimson Ride. The Crimson Ride should be afraid of us.
Friday, September 12th, Grayson Dennis collided with the back of a Crimson Ride on his bike. Two broken arms, 7 screws, a metal plate and a number of stitches later, he is feeling better and agreed to give The Odyssey an exclusive account of exactly what happened.
When I walked into T-Burger to meet Dennis, I didn't take me long to recognize with who I would be speaking. The two casts gave it away. Despite his injuries, Dennis was upbeat and able to laugh off what happened to him. Though admitting it was scary, he believes that this is definitely something he can look back on and laugh.
“The situation is funny," Dennis said. "Hitting a bus is just crazy. Actually experiencing it though…kind of traumatizing.” Dennis gave me the play by play of exactly how the accident went down.
A fast and easy way to get around campus, bike riding is popular with many students and Dennis rode his bike everywhere. As he was riding it down University Boulevard right by the Moody Music Building, he was distracted by something to the side of him. When he looked back to his front, there was a wall of crimson and white stronger than Alabama’s offensive line. He threw his hands up and that is the last thing he remembers before waking up covered in blood and surrounded by stunned pedestrians.
“That was the scariest part. Waking up with all that on me,” Dennis said. He was lucky enough to not end up with a concussion and is already recovering like the champ he is. Of course the big question is if he actually got the infamous free tuition that is rumored about all over campus.
Unfortunately, if you are the one that hits the bus, there is no free tuition. It doesn’t matter too much though to this Pi Kappa Alpha junior, as he already has a scholarship. Now, he wears a pin on his sling to promote wearing a bike helmet. Protecting your brain is a much safer way to get you free tuition here.
Dennis is no stranger to accidents. He told me that he’s, “been in more accidents than you could ever imagine.” Hopefully, he will not have any other calamities like this one. His parents have forbidden him from riding his bike again in hopes there will be fewer broken bones in his future. If that doesn’t work out, though, Dennis promised us we would get the exclusive on any of his future accidents. Hopefully, The Odyssey will not be talking to him anytime soon.
